Belize On A Shoestring: Savvy Savings For The Smart Traveler

Belize is a beautiful country filled with jungles, ruins, wildlife, and pretty beaches. However, it can be quite expensive. Here are some tips to help you save money during your trip:

- Travel off-peak – The most expensive time to visit is between October and April. Consider visiting during the off-season to find cheaper prices for accommodation and flights.

- Use public transportation or hitchhike – The country's bus system covers all major highways and cities, and it is the most cost-effective way to get around. Alternatively, hitchhiking is a common custom among locals and can be a free way to get around.

- Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you may be able to find Couchsurfing hosts, which will save you money on accommodation.

- Eat local food – Dine at neighbourhood joints or fuel up on cheap street food instead of eating at touristy restaurants.

- Bring your own food – Many day trips and excursions charge extra for lunch, so bring your own food to save money.

- Combine excursions – Many tour operators offer trips that combine popular excursions, which can save you money on transfers.

With these tips in mind, you can explore Belize without breaking the bank!

Eat and drink like a local

Belize's food and drink scene is a mix of Latin American and Caribbean, with Creole flavours dominating the local restaurant scene. Here are some tips on how to eat and drink like a local on a budget:

Avoid Western Fast-Food Chains

American fast-food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Pizza Hut don't exist in Belize. Instead, follow the locals to hole-in-the-wall places for cheap, filling, and delicious takeout options such as panades, salbutes, garnaches, and tacos.

Eat Where the Locals Eat

Locals don't eat out much, but when they do, they tend to gather at their favourite restaurants. Look for rowdy, crowded places where you can hear people laughing and gossiping. This usually spells out good, fresh food. Don't be afraid to start a conversation; Belizeans are very welcoming.

Be Adventurous with Your Food Choices

While Belize doesn't have any extremely weird cuisine, there are some uncommon dishes you might want to try, such as chicken foot ceviche, stewed iguana, baked gibnut or armadillo, and cow foot soup. Remember, the trick to enjoying your travels is to keep an open mind!

Shop and Eat Like a Local

Belize's national meal is stewed chicken with rice and beans—it's cheap to prepare and very filling. You can find it for $6 to $8 at roadside stands. To save money on food, learn to shop like a local. Replace your Doritos and Pringles with locally-made tortilla chips or fried plantain chips, and shop at vegetable stands for fresh produce. Eating out will be more expensive, especially in touristy areas. Ask locals for recommendations on cheaper restaurants.

Drink Like a Local

Belize's main beer is Belikin, which comes in several varieties, including regular, lager-type bottled and draught beer, stout, Lighthouse, and Premium. Local rum is also a good option, with the country's oldest distillery, Travellers Liquors in Belize City, producing rich, dark, fruity rum since the 1950s. For non-alcoholic drinks, try the local fruit juices, with fresh orange, lime, and pineapple being popular options.

Travel by bus

Travelling by bus is a great way to save money and experience the local culture. In fact, bus travel is the cheapest way to get around Belize. However, the downside of using the bus system is that often buses are jam-packed and slow.

In Belize, buses run on major highways and stop whenever passengers shout that they are near their stop or when bus drivers see someone on the roadside that wants to be picked up. Catching the bus is cheap but it takes a long time to get around.

Most of the buses are used Bluebird school buses; not very comfortable, not air-conditioned, and not well equipped to handle luggage, but they are cheap! Air-conditioned buses are used on some Express runs.

Bus companies provide two types of service: “Regular” buses stop for passengers anywhere along the route, and “Express” (or non-stop) buses stop only at main towns. The final destination of a bus is displayed in the front window of the bus.

When boarding a bus at a terminal, just get on and find a seat (unless a ticketing system is in place). Buses tend to be crowded, so try to get to the terminal well before the departure time to be assured of a seat. Luggage can be stored in overhead racks, or at the back of the bus, or wherever the conductor says. Always keep an eye on your luggage because passengers often use the rear emergency door as an entrance or exit. I like to keep my luggage within reach if possible. Once the bus gets going, a conductor will collect the fares (no fare for children under the age of two years). If you’re on a Regular bus and want to get off, move to the front of the bus and tell the driver or conductor where you want to get off.

If you’re waiting on the side of a road and want an approaching bus to stop, wave an arm up and down (the bus will not stop if it’s an Express, it’s full or the driver doesn’t feel like stopping). After taking a seat, the conductor will collect the fare.

All bus providers have been given permits to operate within assigned zones. The Northern Zone includes Belize City to Corozal, the Western Zone includes Belize City to Benque Viejo Del Carmen, and the Southern Zone includes Belize City to Punta Gorda.

• Belize City to Belize Zoo: BZ$4.00
• Belize City to Belmopan: BZ$6.00
• Belize City to San Ignacio: BZ$9.00
• Belize City to Corozal: BZ$9.00
• Belize City to Orange Walk: BZ$5.00
• Dangriga to Placencia: BZ$5.00

Express bus fares are BZ$1 more than Regular bus fares.

Stay in a hostel

If you're backpacking in Belize, you'll be pleased to know there are plenty of hostels to choose from, and they're a great way to keep costs down. While facilities may be basic and hot water is sometimes limited, the price is usually reasonable, and many hostels provide mosquito nets. Wi-fi is sometimes available, but it can be patchy in smaller towns.

The Red Hut Inn, Belize City

The Red Hut Inn in Belize City is our pick for the best cheap hostel. With a mixture of dormitories and private rooms, it caters to all budgets. There's a fully equipped kitchen, so you can save money by preparing your own meals instead of eating out. This hostel also offers airport pick-up and drop-off, taking away some of the stress of travelling.

Bella's Backpackers, San Ignacio

If you're looking for another great budget option, check out Bella's Backpackers in San Ignacio. It's an excellent place to meet other travellers while keeping costs low. With a fully equipped kitchen, you can cook your own meals and save your money for exploring and partying. Regular events like communal dinners will make you feel like part of the hostel family.

Lower Dover, San Ignacio

Hidden away in the Western Belizean jungle, Lower Dover is a legendary hostel with the aspects of a jungle lodge and a travel operator. It's perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with zip-lining, tubing, and the ATM cave nearby. For a little extra, you can enjoy traditional Belizean cuisine for breakfast and dinner, accompanied by wine, beer, or juice.

Go Slow Hostel, Caye Caulker

Go Slow Hostel is right in the centre of all the action in Caye Caulker. It's just a 5-minute walk from the beach, and you won't need to go far to find awesome restaurants and bars. With a fully equipped kitchen, you can prepare your own meals and save even more.

Anda Di Hows, Placencia

Anda Di Hows is a great choice if you want the beach right at your doorstep. It's also close to the centre of Placencia Village and the smallest main street in the world, Placencia Sidewalk. If you prefer to stay on-site, you can relax in a hammock on the covered veranda and order a cocktail from the bar.

A Piece of Ground, Punta Gorda

A Piece of Ground is the only hostel in Punta Gorda, and it's a good one! It's walking distance to the town centre but still a bit off the beaten path. There's a small restaurant on-site, and you can enjoy games, a sun deck, and music. It's relatively easy to meet other guests here, with dorms sleeping four or ten, and private double and triple rooms available.

The Funky Dodo Backpackers Hostel, Hopkins

The Funky Dodo Backpackers Hostel is our last pick, located in the centre of Hopkins Village. The hostel can help you arrange adventures in the local area, and digital nomads will love the shaded sandy backyard with high-speed Wi-Fi. There's also a well-equipped kitchen, and several bars, cafes, and restaurants within a minute's walk.

Avoid tourist restaurants

Belize is known for its incredible cuisine, fusing Caribbean, Mexican, Creole, African, Spanish, and Mayan influences. While there is no one distinct Belizean cuisine, you will find a variety of delicious options to choose from. To avoid tourist restaurants and experience authentic Belizean food, here are some tips to follow:

• Opt for street food: Street food in Belize is relatively cheap and offers a wide range of options, from gravy-filled meat pies to "johnny cakes" (coconut-based baked biscuits). You can also find masa-based dishes like panades and salbutes, as well as late-night tacos, pupusas, and burritos.
• Explore local markets: Look for local markets or food stalls where locals dine. These places often serve traditional Belizean dishes at affordable prices.
• Seek out local recommendations: Ask locals for their favourite eateries. They can point you towards hidden gems that only the locals know about.
• Venture outside tourist areas: Tourist restaurants tend to be concentrated in popular tourist areas. By exploring neighbourhoods beyond these areas, you'll find more authentic and affordable dining options.
• Learn about traditional dishes: Familiarise yourself with traditional Belizean dishes, such as stew chicken, stew beef, stew fish, and chimole. Seek out restaurants or food stalls that specialise in these dishes for a more authentic experience.
• Avoid places with English-only menus: Restaurants that cater primarily to tourists often have English-only menus. Look for places with bilingual menus or those that cater to locals, as they are more likely to offer authentic Belizean cuisine.
• Be cautious of tourist traps: Some restaurants in tourist areas may have inflated prices or lower-quality food. Read reviews and ask for recommendations to avoid these tourist traps.

Remember to follow basic food safety precautions when dining in Belize, such as ensuring that meat and seafood are properly cooked and avoiding unpasteurised dairy products. With these tips in mind, you can enjoy delicious and affordable meals while avoiding tourist restaurants in Belize.

Avoid peak season

Belize's peak season runs from December to April, which is also the country's dry season. During this time, you can expect warm and sunny days with clear blue skies and cooler weather in the evenings. The dry season is also the high season for tourism, which means that certain attractions, such as Maya sites, can be more crowded with tourists than usual.

If you want to avoid the crowds and take advantage of cheaper prices, it is best to visit Belize during the low season, which runs from May to November. During these months, you can expect fewer tourists and lower prices on accommodations and tours. However, it is important to note that the rainy season occurs during the low season, so there is a higher chance of rain and tropical storms during this time.

The shoulder season, which includes the months of May, June, July, and November, can also be a good time to visit Belize. During the shoulder season, the prices of tours and accommodations are cheaper than during the high season, but there will still be other travelers around.

Frequently asked questions